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  1. 1.Kosovo Ex-President Thaci’s Defence Seeks Acquittal in Obstruction of Justice TrialXhorxhina Bami · Defence teams for Hashim Thaci and four co-defendants charged with obstruction of justice called for their acquittal, insisting they were charged over 'conversations' that did not result in witnesses
  2. 2.Kosovo Parliament Hit by Fresh Dispute Over Deputy SpeakersPerparim Isufi · Parliament faces new impasse over election of deputy speakers – with the state president's election also unresolved – as an opposition party says it will lay the issue before the country's top court.
  3. 3.Bosnia Charges Seven Over Deadly Fire at Tuzla Elderly People’s Care HomeAzem Kurtic · Prosecutors charge seven people over the blaze at a Tuzla care home last November that killed 15 elderly residents.
  4. 4.ARTE Europe Weekly: When Does a Hybrid War Become a Real War?BIRN · A series of sabotage attacks in the EU all point back to Russia. Now the EU has to decide how to respond.
  5. 5.North Macedonia Govt Finally Reveals Independence Day Celebrations’ CostVlado Apostolov · Government belatedly admits price tag for 35th independence anniversary festivities headlined by star DJ David Guetta – one day after BIRN revealed state-owned lottery's key role in managing events.
  6. 6.Week in Review: Tests and PressuresHamdi Firat Buyuk · Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium s
  7. 7.Concentration Camp to Hotel Catwalk: Montenegrin Fortress’s Makeover Puts History at RiskHatidza Gusic · The use of the former World War II concentration camp at the Mamula Island fortress as a luxury hotel and recently as a fashion runway obscures the suffering of those who were detained and died there.
  8. 8.Student-Led Movement Launches Election Challenge to Serbian GovernmentMarija Bulic · The student-led opposition began its campaign to unseat President Alexander Vucic’s government in October’s parliamentary polls with a rally in Novi Sad, where a fatal disaster in 2024 triggered the p
  9. 9.Democracy Digest: Hungary Begins Clear-out of Russian SpiesAda Petriczko · Elsewhere, EU suspends subsidy payments to Czech PM’s business; Slovak PM pressures prosecutor general to resign; and Tusk ally elected to Poland’s constitutional court.
  10. 10.Can Greek PM’s ‘Progress and Prosperity’ Economic Package Deliver?Eleni Stamatoukou · Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has presented a multi-year package of economic measures promising “progress and prosperity”. Critics argue the measures fail to address the root causes of Gree
  11. 11.Intimidation Claims Loom Large as Kosovo’s Thaci Awaits Trial VerdictXhorxhina Bami · A court in The Hague will soon issue its verdict in the war crimes trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three co-accused amid prosecution claims of an “historic” climate of witness intimi
  12. 12.Young Guns: Vulnerable Youths, ‘Disposable Goods’ in Balkan Drug FeudsJelena Zoric · An analysis of recent gang-related killings in Serbia and Montenegro reveals the prevalence of hired assassins and accomplices in their teens or early twenties, given empty promises of big money but u
  13. 13.Croatia Buys South Korean Rocket Launchers as Regional Arms Race AcceleratesVuk Tesija · Croatia unveils deal adding 18 Chunmoo launchers to its arsenal, after Serbia says it plans to begin producing long-range ballistic missiles.
  14. 14.Hague Prosecutors Seek Six Years for Kosovo’s Thaci for Obstructing JusticeXhorxhina Bami · Prosecution in closing statements demands six years' prison for Thaci, claiming he told his co-defendants to instruct witnesses what to say while testifying in his war crimes case.
  15. 15.Convicted Bosnian Serb Wartime Minister Makes New Release PleaLamija Grebo · Mico Stanisic, the wartime Bosnian Serb interior minister – sentenced to 22 years in prison by the Hague Tribunal – has again requested early release, after being rejected in 2024.
  16. 16.Sarajevo: Were There Really Sniper Safaris?BIRN · Claims that wealthy Europeans paid to shoot at civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s have made international headlines. Did it really happen?
  17. 17.No More Cheap Russian Gas: Minister Sketches Out Moldova’s Energy FutureMadalin Necsutu · Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu tells BIRN that Moldova has contracted most of the gas it needs, is preparing to consolidate Moldovagaz’s 12 distribution companies, and is telling breakaway Transnistr
  18. 18.Belgrade’s Safety Should Not Depend on Private Security CompaniesSasa Djordjevic · A new proposed privately-operated security system raises important questions about who should be keeping Serbia’s capital safe.
  19. 19.After Delays and Controversies, End in Sight For Thaci’s Kosovo War Crimes TrialXhorxhina Bami · After more than five years in detention at The Hague on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other wartime guerrilla leaders will soon hear
  20. 20.Letter from Brussels: Glorification of Mladic a Test for EU’s Position on ‘Dear Aleksandar’Gjeraqina Tuhina · As Serbia mourns Ratko Mladic, how far will Brussels go in defending its principles on the glorification of war criminals?
  21. 21.Serbia’s Vucic Calls Early Parliamentary Elections for October 25Katarina Baletic · President sets October 25 election date, saying Serbia needs an end to a year-and-a-half of 'turbulence' - referring to student-led protests that have rocked the country.
  22. 22.Montenegro Opposition Moves to Oust Speaker for Mladic CondolencesPredrag Milic · Opposition pushes for removal of Andrija Mandic as speaker of parliament after he expressed public condolences following death of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic.
  23. 23.Serbia, Bosnian Serbs Slate Sarajevo’s Expulsion of Diplomats over MladicAzem Kurtic · Bosnia's expulsion of two Serbian embassy staff, in response to the honours given to Ratko Mladic's funeral, draws angry response from Serbia and Bosnian Serb officials – who questioned its legitimacy
  24. 24.Ex-Yugoslavia’s Queer Literary Heroes Tell Tales to InspireNat Stepanovic · As the LGBTQ+ Pride marching season ends for the year, we can continue to draw inspiration from the classics of Balkan queer literature – so here’s a reading list of some of most interesting titles av
  25. 25.Under New Law, Albania’s Mountains Risk Same Fate as Coast, Critics SayFjori Sinoruka · While all eyes are on the damage caused by tourism construction on Albania’s coast, the government has passed a law designed to boost investment in the mountains too, much to the concern of environmen
  26. 26.‘Disposable’ IP Firms in Serbia, Montenegro Obscure Origins of Russian Cyber MeddlingAleksa Tesic · Serbia and Montenegro are hosting crucial nodes in the complex infrastructure of Russian cybercrime and disinformation operations in Europe, according to the findings of a BIRN investigation.
  27. 27.Ratko Mladic’s Lavish Funeral was an Indictment of Serbia’s Govt: ExpertsKatarina Baletic · Four experts told BIRN that ‘state-sponsored event’ should not be taken as representative of all Serbian society – even if it sent a disturbing message.
  28. 28.Montenegro Prosecutors Open Case Against Bishop for Praising MladicPredrag Milic · Serbian Orthodox Bishop who hailed convicted war criminal's 'wonderful and holy qualities' faces charges of inciting national, racial and religious hatred.
  29. 29.Turkey’s Ruling Party Seizes Back Control of Important MayoraltyHamdi Firat Buyuk · President Erdogan's ruling party takes back control of Istanbul’s Uskudar municipality – a key district that it lost to the opposition in the 2024 local elections.
  30. 30.Kosovo Parliament to Reconvene, ‘Chaos’ Looms over Election of PresidentPerparim Isufi · There is very little certainty about what will happen when Kosovo’s parliament resumes its inaugural session on Wednesday.
  31. 31.Albanian Port Bars Alleged Russian-Linked ‘Shadow Fleet’ Oil TankerBesar Likmeta · Ukraine welcomes Albania’s ‘demonstration of solidarity’ in blocking the ‘Hanuman’ tanker, whose operator, it believes, is linked to Kremlin allies.
  32. 32.Romanians Flock to Venerate Saint Anne’s Relics in BucharestMarian Chiriac · Thousands of people have been queuing in Bucharest to venerate the relics of Saint Anne, who, according to Christian tradition, was the Virgin Mary’s mother and Christ’s grandmother.
  33. 33.EU Leaders Condemn ‘Shocking’ Glorification of Mladic at Belgrade FuneralHamdi Firat Buyuk · European Commission and European Council presidents voice dismay over convicted war criminal's glorification at his funeral, as US lawmakers and Turkish officials also said scenes undermined regional
  34. 34.Falling Profits Cloud Horizons for Turkey’s Booming Tourist IndustryHamdi Firat Buyuk · Turkey continues to attract millions of tourists, but falling shrinking profit margins reveal an industry under pressure despite the healthy numbers.
  35. 35.BIRN Fact-Check: Has Romania Made a Success of Post-Pandemic EU Funding?Marian Chiriac · Official boasts about the number of projects completed under the EU’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan conceal a more complicated picture.
  36. 36.Czech PM’s Balkan Schengen Illusion Is a Security Risk for EuropePetr Cermak · At a time of growing threats from Russia, any hasty expansion of the EU’s border-free zone would not only be politically unfeasible and technically impracticable but also dangerous.
  37. 37.Ratko Mladic Buried with Military Honours in Serbia, Thousands Attend FuneralMarina Zec · The funeral of Ratko Mladic was held in Belgrade with thousands of mourners including senior officials from Serbia and Bosnia’s Republika Srpska – defying EU warnings about glorifying the Bosnian Serb
  38. 38.Kosovo Man Pleads Not Guilty to Spying for SerbiaAdile Agushi · The former head of the Pristina-based Institute for Advancing Interethnic Relations, Fatmir Sheholli, pleaded not guilty to spying for Serbia's intelligence agency, the BIA.
  39. 39.Belgrade Pride March Marks 25 Years with Call for ToleranceMarina Zec · Hundreds joined the annual Belgrade Pride march, marking a quarter of a century since the first event was held in the Serbian capital in 2001, when it was disrupted by violence.
  40. 40.Monday Briefing from the Balkans: September 7, 2026BIRN · Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region.
  41. 41.Live Blog: War Criminal Ratko Mladic’s Funeral in SerbiaBIRN · Follow BIRN’s reporters for the latest developments as the wartime Bosnian Serb military chief, who died while serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity, is buried in the Serbia
  42. 42.Nearing EU Accession, Montenegro Targets Money Behind Organised CrimePredrag Milic · Seeking to prove to the EU its commitment to root out organised crime, Montenegro has adopted a new law on asset confiscation, but implementation will be key.
  43. 43.Serbia’s Spyware Abuse Escalates as Students Targeted in Election Run-UpMaja Bjelos · Forensic investigations have uncovered Serbia’s largest documented wave of spyware targeting, with student activists and opposition figures among the victims ahead of a high-stakes election - the late
  44. 44.‘Transformative Protest’: 100 Days On, What Has Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ Achieved?Fjori Sinoruka · As anti-government demonstrations in Tirana reach the 100-day mark, four experts discuss how significant the impact on Albanian politics and society will be.
  45. 45.Serbian, Bosnian Serb Officials Join Hundreds at Ratko Mladic CommemorationKatarina Baletic · Serbia’s justice minister and the president of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska joined hundreds of people paying tribute to the deceased genocide and war crimes convict Ratko Mladic at the state-owned Army H
  46. 46.Serbia’s Vucic Slates EU Condemnation of Mladic Tributes as ‘Stupid’Katarina Baletic · After the EU enlargement commissioner cancels a visit to Belgrade in protest against 'glorification' of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic after his death, President Vucic dismisses her criticism as
  47. 47.Kosovo Charges Serbian Security Officers Over Jashari Compound MassacreXhorxhina Bami · High-profile former Serbian security figures including Jovica Stanisic and Milorad ‘Legija’ Ulemek are indicted for mass killings in then Kosovo Liberation Army commander's Adem Jashari family compoun
  48. 48.Serbian President Launches ‘Non-Political’ Podcast as Election LoomsMarina Zec · President Aleksandar Vucic’s trial podcast, featuring well-known basketball coach Miroslav Nikolic, follows an online self-promotion trend embraced by other politicians in the region and beyond.
  49. 49.Week in Review: Ghosts and GunsHamdi Firat Buyuk · The death of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic is stirring old ghosts across the Balkans. Our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories examines how the legacies of the past and choices of t
  50. 50.ARTE Europe Weekly: Iceland’s Accession Rejection Raises Questions for the EUBIRN · Icelanders have voted against resuming talks on EU membership. What does this means for the bloc's enlargement perspectives?
  51. 51.Romania Opens New Human Trafficking Case Against Tate BrothersMarian Chiriac · Bucharest authorities expand investigation into the controversial 'manosphere' influencers, bringing new human trafficking charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate.
  52. 52.Democracy Digest: Poland Investigates Arson of Drone Factory as Suspected Russian SabotagePeter Dlhopolec · Elsewhere, Hungary indicates it might not be the kind of pliant partner the EU had hoped for; draft of Czechia’s 2027 budget met with criticism from all quarters; Slovakia defies Kremlin warning over
  53. 53.Under Pressure Over Gaza, Israel’s Defence Industry Expands in the BalkansRoy Aloni · Countries across the Balkan region have increasingly been doing arms deals with Israel and purchasing its military technology – while strengthening political ties too.
  54. 54.25 Years After Belgrade’s ‘Bloody Pride’, Serbian LGBT Activists March OnIvana Jeremic · A quarter-century after Serbia’s first LGBTQ+ Pride march was violently disrupted, its organisers look back on its legacy – and at what has changed for the community since 2001.
  55. 55.Old Script, New Ghost: Mladic’s Death Looms Large as Bosnia Election Campaign OpensAzem Kurtic · The convicted war criminal’s death is set to overshadow the start of the election campaign - which appears likely to be dominated by familiar themes of nationalism, patronage and recycled promises.
  56. 56.Ratko Mladic’s Body Flown to Belgrade, Met by Serbian OfficialsKatarina Baletic · The body of deceased genocide convict Ratko Mladic was flown on a Serbian government plane to Belgrade, where it was met by the Minister of Justice and an honour guard.
  57. 57.Serbian Authorities Deny Spyware Attacks on Student Protesters, ActivistsKatarina Baletic · Serbia's intelligence agency and President Aleksandar Vucic dismiss claims that student activists and government critics have been targeted with spyware attacks, calling the allegation 'trivial sensat
  58. 58.Bosnian Serb Fails to Appear at First Ukraine War Crimes HearingAndrii Pogorilyi · Bosnian Serb Davor Savicic, accused of committing war crimes against civilians while fighting alongside Russian forces, failed to appear at his first court hearing in Ukraine, prompting the court to p
  59. 59.Russian Drone Attacks Unite Romania, Moldova and Ukraine to Counter ThreatMadalin Necsutu · A sharp rise in Russian drone incursions is prompting Moldova and Romania to work more closely with neighbouring Ukraine on producing their own drones to shoot them down.
  60. 60.‘Not Mere Incidents’: Kosovo Questions Femicide Approach after New KillingsXhorxhina Bami · Two femicides within a week have led to calls for Kosovo to treat gender-based violence as a national emergency.
  61. 61.As Montenegro Eyes EU Accession, Croatia Wants ‘Issues’ ResolvedPredrag Milic · Croatia is warning Montenegro that the EU won’t import any ‘bilateral disputes’, but are the problems between the ex-Yugoslav neighbours really big enough to block Montenegro’s accession?
  62. 62.Croatia Sentences Bosnian Citizen for Glorifying MladicVuk Tesija · Court hands suspended sentenced to 43-year-old Bosnian for glorifying the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic who died on August 26 while serving a life sentence.
  63. 63.Serbia’s Grief Over Mladic’s Death is Neither Honourable Nor DignifiedSofija Todorovic · Official tributes to the convicted war criminal, openly glorifying his deeds, are another reminder that Serbia has yet to come to terms with its bloody past.
  64. 64.Serbia NGOs Condemn Push to Allow Construction on Fire-Damaged LandKatarina Baletic · Prominent NGOs slate law changes allowing construction 'in the public interest' on land recently devastated by wildfires.
  65. 65.Kosovo President’s Election Jeopardised by Party’s Inner DivisionsXhorxhina Bami · Election of new head of state and end to political crisis now looks less likely after several Democratic League of Kosovo MPs said they would not support a joint candidate backed by their party leader
  66. 66.‘This Is How We Lived Here’: Documenting 16 Years in Hungary Under OrbanEdit Inotai · Hungarians share stories about family breakdowns, painful personal experiences, career endings and loss of loved ones, in an oral history archive chronicling life under Fidesz.
  67. 67.‘Marine Landfills’: The Garbage Choking Greece’s SeasEleni Stamatoukou · Behind the image of crystal-clear waters, the Ionian and Aegean seabeds in Greece are choking under growing concentrations of waste, particularly plastics.
  68. 68.Demirovski: Macedonian Ammo Maker Untouched by Scandals in SerbiaSasa Dragojlo · Lauded by political leaders in North Macedonia, ammunition producer Shefshet Demirovski has twice been embroiled in espionage scandals in neighbouring Serbia, was bailed out by a man later charged wit
  69. 69.‘Polish Annexation’ Hoax Campaign Spotlights Czech Disinformation VulnerabilityJules Eisenchteter · A recent disinformation campaign claimed Poland was about to occupy Czech territory, putting Prague’s response to hybrid threats to the test.
  70. 70.Postponement of Serbian Activists’ Subversion Trial ‘Absurd’, Lawyer SaysMarina Zec · A Serbian court has once again postponed the opening of the trial of 12 activists accused of plotting the overthrow of the authorities ahead of a mass protest in Belgrade in March 2025.
  71. 71.A Question of Justice: What I Learned from Watching Ratko Mladic’s TrialAhmet Gumusbas · Observing Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic on trial while working at the Hague Tribunal, I no longer saw a ‘symbol of absolute evil’ but a defendant whose responsibility for his crimes had to
  72. 72.Bulgaria’s Former Interim PM Andrey Gyurov Confirms Presidential BidSvetoslav Todorov · Former interim prime minister ends months of speculation over his presidential ambitions, meaning he will likely be the main rival to Iliana Iotova in the October polls.
  73. 73.Russian Suspected of Triple Homicide in Montenegro Dies by SuicidePredrag Milic · Police say a Russian national suspected of shooting dead three Montenegrins at a firing range killed himself after being located in a wooded area in Herceg Novi.
  74. 74.Animals in Tirana Zoo Struggle in Sweltering Summer HeatFjori Sinoruka · A predominance of young trees and limited water resources are compounding the effects of climate change at Tirana Zoo.
  75. 75.Montenegro Greenlighting Solar Plants Despite Warnings of Biodiversity DamageIvan Ivanovic · A BIRN analysis shows Montenegro’s government and Environmental Protection Agency are waving through solar power projects despite warnings of damage to potential conservation areas and endangered spec
  76. 76.Women Survivors of Bosnia’s War Watch Tributes to Mladic with DespairAzem Kurtic · Two women who survived the crimes committed by Ratko Mladic’s forces during the 1992-95 war explain how his death last week brought new distress as young Serbs in Bosnia glorified his legacy.
  77. 77.Montenegro Opposition Seeks Parliament Speaker’s Dismissal Over Mladic CondolencesPredrag Milic · Saying “he had crossed a line”, Montenegro’s biggest opposition party is seeking the dismissal of parliamentary speaker Andrija Mandic after he expressed condolences on the death of genocide convict R
  78. 78.Kosovo’s Vetevendosje, LDK Agree on Ex-Judge as Joint Presidential CandidateXhorxhina Bami · Kosovo's governing Vetevendosje party and opposition Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK agreed on a joint presidential candidate - which could end the country's political deadlock and allow a new parlia
  79. 79.Two Kosovo Serbs Plead Guilty to Participating in 2022 UnrestLaurant Berisha · Two Kosovo Serbs pleaded guilty to violating the constitutional order by participating in setting up roadblocks and barricades in the Serb-majority north of the country during protests in 2022.
  80. 80.Monday Briefing from the Balkans: August 31, 2026BIRN · Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region.
  81. 81.Warsaw’s Political Fight with Kyiv Is Being Settled on Polish StreetsAda Petriczko · A quarrel over wartime memory and an election campaign that made Ukrainian refugees a political issue have left Poland's largest immigrant community more exposed than at any time since 2022.
  82. 82.Author Lea Ypi Explores Albanians’ Struggles for Dignity Under CommunismJeta Xharra · Albanian philosopher and writer Lea Ypi talks to BIRN about exploring the importance of freedom and dignity through the plight of her grandparents, who were persecuted by the communist regime.
  83. 83.From Zvornik to Visegrad, Bosnian Serbs Keep Cult of Mladic AliveDzana Brkanic · In the city of Zvornik, hundreds took to the streets to chant Ratko Mladic’s name after his death in The Hague, while public tributes were held in many other towns – even though glorifying war crimina
  84. 84.Serbian President Vucic Says UN Court ‘Wanted Mladic to Die Behind Bars’Marina Zec · Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague was guilty of "uncivilised" and "unjustifiable" behaviour for not releasing the Bosnian Serb genocide convict before his
  85. 85.Montenegro President Summons Security Council Over ‘Destabilisation Threats’Predrag Milic · President Jakov Milatovic has called an emergency session of the country’s Defence and Security Council after claims that two neighbour states are seeking to destabilise Montenegro and obstruct its EU
  86. 86.Week in Review: Hopes and DilemmasMilos Damnjanovic · From Turkey’s search for peace to Serbia’s creeping elections, our selection of Premium stories takes a look at the hopes and dilemmas bubbling away in the background of these developments.
  87. 87.Mladic is Dead, and My Serb Grandfather Was Right About His FateKristina Ljevak Bajramovic · Living in Sarajevo during wartime, my grandfather insisted that Ratko Mladic and his forces would be held to account for their crimes. But although Mladic was convicted, he died an elderly man, while
  88. 88.Tribute Gatherings for Ratko Mladic Held Across Bosnia’s Republika SrpskaAzem Kurtic · Crowds gathered in towns across Bosnia's Serb-dominated Republika Srpska to mourn convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic after his death, with hundreds marching through Zvornik chanting his name.
  89. 89.Serbia to Organise Genocide Convict Ratko Mladic’s Funeral with State HonoursKatarina Baletic · The Serbian government will organise the transportation of the body of the convicted Bosnian Serb general from The Hague to Belgrade and arrange his funeral with state honours.
  90. 90.Democracy Digest: Crypto Scandal Returns to Haunt Poland’s Right Ahead of Election YearEdit Inotai · Elsewhere, Slovakia foils arson plot against Ukrainian drone factory; Czech intelligence agency warns over Russia sabotage, China spying; and nominated head of Hungarian agency to recover stolen money

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